Bucket Backpack

ABSTRACT

A backpack bucket carrier comprising a rigid frame having a vertical back-frame, a horizontal bucket shelf extending rearwardly from the back-frame and having a raised circular bucket-retaining ring spaced from the vertical back-frame, a backpack type soft harness secured to the rigid frame, and a telescoping handle assembly stowed in the vertical back frame.

RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/328,822, filed Apr. 28, 2016 by the same inventor (Wistrand), theentirety of which provisional application is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD

The subject matter of the present application is in the field ofbackpacks, and in particular backpacks for carrying cylindricalcontainers such as buckets.

BACKGROUND

Sportsmen and workers in certain vocations often use large plasticbuckets, i.e. “five gallon” or “utility” buckets with rigid cylindricalbodies and snap-tight lids, for transporting equipment to and fromlocations such as hunting blinds, ice fishing holes, and worksites.While the size of the buckets may vary, they are generally bulky andheavy when full, and difficult to carry far by hand.

Devices for carrying or transporting such buckets are known, and seem tofall into two general types: backpack carriers, and wheeled framessimilar to dollies or wheeled luggage transports.

Examples of prior bucket-transporting devices include those shown inU.S. Patent Application Publication US-2015/0076202 to Jensen et al(utility bucket backpack comprising spaced upper and lower strapsconnected around the circumference of the bucket, and connected to twobackpack straps); U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,761 to Nish (sportsmen's utilitybucket cover comprising a fabric backpack with a cylindrical fabric packbody having a circular foam lid for a seat, and various pockets); andU.S. Pat. No. 8,789,836 to Umbro et al (wheeled transport carrier forstandard sized buckets and propane tanks, with an offset handlepositioned over the bucket center of gravity, and convertible to askid).

While various carriers such as the examples above might be useful incertain situations, there is room for improvement in terms of strength,carrying stability, comfort, and, especially, outdoor recreationalutility.

BRIEF SUMMARY

I have invented a bucket backpack comprising a rigid pack frame withbackpack straps, especially useful for carrying utility buckets tofishing and hunting spots. The backpack is not limited to these uses,however.

In a first form, the backpack comprises a rigid pack frame having asubstantially rectangular upright back-frame; a rigid circularhorizontal bucket shelf extending rearwardly from the back-frame with asubstantially continuous vertical ring around its perimeter, the ringspaced rearwardly from the back-frame; and a telescoping handle storedin the back-frame, the handle having a stored position resting above amaximum height of a bucket on the circular shelf, the handle furtherhaving an extended position forming an elongated vertical backrest, andthe handle being substantially coplanar with the back-frame.

The frame is useful on its own for carrying a bucket short distances byhand, and for converting the bucket to a convenient chair withoutremoving the bucket from the frame. The frame also includes a preferablydetachable padded backpack portion with shoulder straps, and one or morebucket-securing straps or similar securing members.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description below, in light of theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an example backpack according to theinvention, with a bucket secured therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the backpack of FIG. 1, with the bucketshown in an exploded assembly position.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the backpack frame from FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the backpack frame of FIG. 1 with a removablepadded back and shoulder straps portion in phantom.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the backpack of FIG. 1 being worn by a person.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the backpack of FIG. 1 being used as a chair bya person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, a bucket backpack 10 is shown in exemplaryform in order to teach how to make and use the claimed invention.Backpack 10 includes a rigid frame 20 having a vertical back-frameportion 22 and a horizontal bucket shelf 24 extending rearwardly fromthe back-frame, and a soft pack portion 30 removably attached to frame20. Frame 20 in the illustrated example is made from welded tubularsteel or aluminum members, although other materials including wood orsuitably strong polymers or composites could be used, and other knownjoining techniques for the members making up the frame are possible,e.g. mechanical fasteners or molding in one-piece. Soft pack portion 30is sewn from typical backpack materials such as nylon canvas.

Backpack 10 is used to secure and transport a common utility bucket B ofknown type, in particular a “five-gallon” type bucket with a lid L,although other types and sizes of buckets may be carried on thebackpack.

Vertical back-frame 22 provides attachment points for soft pack portion30, in the illustrated example with wraparound wings or sleeves offabric such as 38 secured with snaps, rivets, pins, or Velcro® fastenerinto or around vertical back-frame members 22 a and/or horizontalback-frame members 22 b.

Horizontal bucket shelf 24 includes longitudinal brace members 24 aextending rearwardly from vertical back-frame 22, and cross-members 24 bas needed for strength. Shelf 24 further includes a circular retainingring 24 c comprising a substantially continuous raised circular wall orflange extending e.g. one or two inches upwardly from the horizontalshelf formed by brace members 22 a and 22 b. The diameter of ring 24 capproximates and is sufficient to receive the diameter of the lower endof bucket B therein, with a close fit minimizing movement of the bucketin the ring. As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, ring 24 c is spaced from theplane of back-frame 22 defined by members 22 a, with an air gap 23 thatensures space is maintained between the bucket and a user's back. Ring24 c may include perforations or interruptions, slots, etc. for weightsavings and drainage, or may even be a series of raised tabs incircumferential arrangement on the shelf corresponding to the outercircumference of the lower end of the bucket and sufficient to preventthe lower end of the bucket from shifting in any direction on the shelf.

Back-frame 22 further includes a telescoping handle assembly 26extendable from the upper ends of tubular frame members 22 a. Handleassembly 26 includes two spaced vertical members 26 a nestedtelescopically in tubular back-frame members 22 a, and a cross-handle 26b connecting the upper ends of vertical members 26 a. Cross-handle 26 bcan be padded or rubberized for insulation, comfort, and grip. Handleassembly 26 can be locked into its stowed position and one or moreraised positions using removable clevis pins 27 extending throughaligned holes 126 a formed through vertical tubular members 22 a and 26a. Other locking means such as detent pins, expanding screw collars, andsimilar are also possible.

The close fit between bucket B and the interior of horizontal shelf ring24 c prevents any significant shifting of the bucket while walking.Bucket B can be further secured on the pack frame with one or more setsof straps 28 anchored to or wrapped around the frame and secured aroundthe circumference of the bucket with buckles, Velcro® fastener, orsimilar known connectors 28b. Other possible securing means includerope, bungee cords, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 5, soft pack portion 30 presents an essentiallyconventional backpack strap harness 34 and padded or ventilated fabricback panel 32 to the user, with the option of storage compartments orpockets if desired. A waistbelt 36 is desirable for additional carryingcomfort and stability. Bucket B is supported rigidly and securely inrigid frame 20, without shifting, while the person is carrying the packvia the softer strap harness. Handle assembly 26 is positioned above thetop of the bucket in the stowed position shown in FIG. 5, providing anattachment point for additional gear carried on top of the bucket, andkeeping the handle clear for easy grasping if the bucket/packcombination is to be hand carried a short distance without donning thepack harness 34.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is the air gap 23 maintained between thenon-breathable, rigid sidewall of the bucket B and the user's back. Airgap 23 keeps the user cool and prevents uncomfortable contact betweenthe user's back and the bucket, eliminating the need for specialcushioning so that soft pack back-panel portion 32 may be a lattice ofstraps or a simple panel of mesh or fabric for enhanced breathability.

Bucket B is easily removed from frame 20 for various purposes once adesired use location is reached, but can pick up dirt, water, snow,leaves, etc. when set on the ground. The open nature of bucket shelf 24allows such debris to simply drain or fall off once the bucket isre-inserted in the frame and the frame is hefted onto the back forcarrying, keeping the wearer and the soft pack portions clean and dry.

FIG. 5 also shows equipment holders or attachments 25 secured orattached to ring 24 c, for example fabric pouches mounted on the ring orrigid holders such as b-rings or clips welded, molded, or mechanicallysecured to the material of the ring 24 c. Holders 25 can be used tocarry items such as fishing equipment or tools, for example, on theoutside of the bucket shelf where they can be readily accessed.

Referring next to FIG. 6, the combination of bucket B and the rigidframework 20 of backpack 10 allows it to be used as a sturdy andcomfortable chair, including a seatback created when handle assembly 26is raised and locked in place. For additional comfort, a preferablyremovable backpad 29 may be secured to the inner face of the handleassembly 26, attached by Velcro® straps or similar. Backpad 29 may bestowed and carried somewhere on or in the soft pack portion 30, or ontop of or inside bucket B if the backpad is not permanently attached tohandle assembly 26. Lid L can also be provide with a cushion or pad (notshown, but known) for sitting, either removably or permanently attachedto the lid. The rigid, L-shaped frame 20 with the brace members 24 a and24 b in contact with the ground, and the large-diameter rigid ring 24 c,ensures that the pack/bucket combination sits level on the ground for astable seat.

It will finally be understood that the disclosed embodiments representpresently preferred examples of how to make and use the invention, butare intended to enable rather than limit the invention. Variations andmodifications of the illustrated examples in the foregoing writtenspecification and drawings may be possible without departing from thescope of the invention. It should further be understood that to theextent the term “invention” is used in the written specification, it isnot to be construed as a limiting term as to number of claimed ordisclosed inventions or discoveries or the scope of any such inventionor discovery, but as a term which has long been used to describe new anduseful improvements in science and the useful arts. The scope of theinvention supported by the above disclosure should accordingly beconstrued within the scope of what it teaches and suggests to thoseskilled in the art, and within the scope of any claims that the abovedisclosure supports in this application or in any other applicationclaiming priority to this application.

1. A backpack for carrying a large utility bucket, the backpackcomprising: a rigid pack frame having a substantially rectangularupright back-frame; a rigid horizontal bucket shelf extending rearwardlyfrom the back-frame with a substantially continuous vertical ring aroundits perimeter, the ring spaced rearwardly from the back-frame with anair gap therebetween; and a telescoping handle stored in the back-frame,the handle having a stored position resting above a maximum height of abucket on the circular shelf, the handle further having a lockableextended position forming an elongated vertical backrest, and the handlebeing substantially coplanar with the back-frame.
 2. The backpackaccording to claim 1, further comprising a removable soft pack portionattached to the rigid pack frame, the soft pack portion comprising ashoulder strap harness.
 3. The backpack according to claim 1, whereinthe ring is sized for a close non-shifting fit with the lower end of abucket.
 4. The backpack according to claim 3, further comprising one ormore strap means attached to the pack frame and configured to wraparound a bucket.
 5. The backpack according to claim 1, wherein theupright frame comprises a pair of spaced vertical members, and furtherwherein the circumference of a bucket inserted in the ring does notextend between the spaced members.